Concrete wood form

ABSTRACT

An improved form construction enables wooden planks to be secured together with a novel clamp member when pouring various concrete structures. The novel clamp member has an L shaped body with the lower leg of the clamp member physically supporting the wooden plank while the upper leg of said clamp member is fastened to an already fixed retaining stake adjoining the clamp member. A pair of these clamp members can also be physically joined together in the present form construction to further position the supported plank members in a right angle orientation.

RELATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION

This application relates to Provisional Application No. 60/683,086 filed by the present applicant on May 23, 2005

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to wood forms employed to retain wet concrete when producing various constructions such as sidewalks, driveways, floors, curbings, roads and the like.

Forms for retaining wet concrete in the process of producing concrete flat structures such as sidewalks, driveways, floors, curbings and roads customarily employ dimensional lumber, such as conventional two-by-fours or two-by-sixes to border the desired structural pattern. Accordingly, said two-by-four wooden planks, for example, are secured end to end about the entire perimeter of the desired construction to become the form that defines each edge of the concrete structure to be poured. It also is frequently required for some of said wooden planks to be oriented at right angles to each other when forming the ends of the desired concrete structure. Metal or wooden retaining stakes are driven into the ground adjacent the exterior side of said wooden plank members to secure said members in place against the pressure of the wet concrete being poured to form the final concrete structure. In doing so, said traditional retaining stakes are provided with nail openings allowing conventional nails to be manually driven into the adjoining wooden planks after passing through said nail openings. After the poured concrete has cured to a solid condition, traditional practice requires the retaining stakes and wooden planks to be removed from all sides of the concrete structure which understandably first necessitates nail removal in doing so. Following removal of the retaining stakes and wooden form members, soil or other material can then be back-filled against the sides of the concrete structure to produce an overall level surface with the top of the poured surface.

Several serious problems arise with said conventional method of erecting and removing wooden forms when producing said concrete structures. A first problem arises with the considerable manual labor and expense needed to nail the retaining stakes to the wooden planks when assembling said wooden form structures. A second equally serious problem arises from having to extract these nails in order to remove the retaining stakes and form planks from the finished concrete structure. Frequent warping or bending of the wooden form planks being employed in said traditional practice further aggravates any nail joinder of said form planks to the already fixed retaining stakes.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a novel form construction when producing various concrete installations with conventional wooden planks.

It is another important object of the present invention to provide novel joinder means to physically connect wooden plank members to already fixed retaining stakes when erecting a concrete form structure.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide a novel clamp member enabling conventional wooden planks to be temporarily secured to already fixed retaining stakes when erecting and removing a concrete form structure.

It is a still further important object of the present invention to provide a novel clamp member enabling physical orientation of adjoining wooden plank members to be disposed at right angles to each other when erecting a concrete form structure.

These and still further objects of the present invention will become more apparent upon considering the following more detailed description of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It has now been discovered that novel form clamping means of the present invention enables the wooden planks of said concrete form assembly to be adequately secured together entirely without nails. This is carried out in certain embodiments of the present invention with a novel clamp member securing the adjoining plank members end to end with said clamp member being fastened to an already fixed retaining stake. The fixed stakes in said embodiments can be metal or wood as well as also not requiring nail openings. In other clamp members of the present invention, the clamp construction enables a pair of said clamp members to be joined together so that adjoining wooden planks supported thereby are positioned at right angles to each other. Basically, the present clamp member has an L shaped metal construction with the lower leg of said clamp member physically supporting the adjoining wooden planks and with the upper leg of said clamp member having assorted fastening means to physically join said clamp member to an already fixed retaining stake. Said clamp member can further include a raised outer edge on the lower leg of said member to help keep the supported wooden plank in place. Likewise, the present clamp member can also include pointed spike elements disposed inwardly on either or both legs of said clamp member to further help with retaining the supported plank members fixed in place. A still further removable clip can also be employed with the present clamp member to help resist movement of said clamp member after joinder to said already fixed retaining stake.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B depict a perspective view for a representative clamp member of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view for a different representative clamp member of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is again a perspective view for a still different representative clamp member of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the FIG. 3 clamp member employing different fastening means.

FIG. 5 is another perspective view for the FIG. 3 clamp member employing dissimilar fastening means.

FIGS. 6A and 6B again depict a perspective view for a pair of clamp members according to the present invention which have been joined together for positioning of supported plank members in a right angle orientation with respect to each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1A depicts the front face of a representative wood form construction according to the present invention. More particularly, said novel clamp member 10 is depicted physically supporting a conventional wooden 2×4 plank 12 while being affixed to an ordinary metal retaining stake 14 which has previously been driven into the surrounding ground (not shown). Said metal clamp member 10 has an L shaped body with lower leg 16 providing a horizontal shelf physically supporting said wooden plank member and with the upper leg portion 18 of said clamp member having yoke type fastening means 20 connected to the back face of said clamp member (see FIG. 1B) for joinder of said clamp member to the already fixed retaining stake. Lower leg portion 16 of the depicted clamp member further includes a raised outer edge 22 keeping the supported wooden plank in place with further assistance of a rearwardly extending projection 24 being provided on upper leg 18 of said clamp member. Both of said latter structural features can also serve to mechanically strengthen the clamp member against deformation during use and can easily be incorporated into a unitary construction when fabricating said clamp member by conventional metal forming procedures. The depicted clamp member 10 can still further include spaced apart pointed spikes protruding from the inner sides of said clamp member and entering into the supported plank to still better resist plank movement. Accordingly, spike elements 26 have been provided on bottom leg portion 16 of said clamp member as have spike elements 28 been added to upper leg 18 for said purpose. Slot opening in said yoke type fastening means 20 further includes a slidable bar 29 to lock said clamp member in place against the outer side of the inserted retaining stake 14. FIG. 1B depicts the rear face of said clamp member 10 further illustrating movement of said slidable bar 29 when securing said clamp member to the previously fixed retaining stake.

FIG. 2 illustrates a different clamp member of the present invention which further includes supplementary holding means to resist clamp movement. As shown, said clamp member 30 again physically supports said wooden plank member 32 while being secured to a previously installed metal retaining stake 34 having nail openings 36. Said metal clamp member again has an L shaped construction with bottom leg portion 38 being joined to the upper leg portion 40. Bottom leg 38 of said clamp member also again includes a raised outer edge 42 while the laterally extending projection 44 on the upper leg of said member protrudes rearwardly to permit optional clamping thereon of the now included supplemental holding means. The presently depicted supplemental holding means 46 for said clamp member includes a removable metal clip member 48 having downwardly extending edge 50 at one end and an opening 52 at the opposite end for joinder to the already fixed metal retaining stake 34. Such joinder of the metal clip to the retaining stake at one end while having said clip member joined to the wooden plank at the opposite end provides resistance of the clamp member to rotation about the retaining stake when the wet concrete is poured. Retention of the installed clip member to the already fixed retaining stake is provided with a removable metal pin 54 being inserted through a suitable nail opening 36 provided in the retaining stake member 34. Clamp member 30 is further physically joined to retaining stake 34 with additional removable pin means. In so doing, a hollow metal cylinder 56 enabling passage of the perforated retaining stake is secured to the outer face of the upper clamp leg. Said hollow cylinder 56 includes multiple vertical pin openings enabling the entire clamp form assembly to be raised or lowered to a desired grade level when said additional retention pin 58 is relocated after insertion through the aligned stake and cylinder openings.

FIG. 3 depicts a further modified clamp member construction of the present invention having interrupted outer raised edges on the lower clamp leg to help keep the supported wooden plank fixed in place.

Said metal clamp member 60 again physically supports wooden plank member 62 while being further joined to already fixed retaining stake 64 in the same general manner already described for the immediately preceding embodiment. In accordance therewith, a hollow retention cylinder 66 having vertical pin openings 68 can be welded or secured by other conventional means to the rear face 70 of said upper clamp leg allowing passage of the retaining stake therethrough. Alignment of the stake and cylinder pin openings thereby permits removable pin 72 to join said stake and clamp member together forming the final form assembly. Interrupted raised edges 74 and 76 provided on the front face of the lower clamp leg satisfactorily resist plank movement when the wet concrete is poured while the multiple pin openings provided in the already fixed stake and retention cylinder 66 assist proper grade leveling.

FIG. 4 provides a rear face view of other fastening means 80 which can be employed to secure the clamp member to an already affixed perforated retaining stake in accordance the present invention. As shown, clamp member 82 includes the same general type holding means employed in FIG. 3 to secure the clamp member to a perforated retaining stake member. Accordingly, said clamp member includes the perforated retention cylinder 84 secured to the rear face of said clamp member for passage of said perforated stake member 86 therethrough while further being physically joined together. The present physical joinder is provided with a conventional metal screw 88 having a pointed tip which proceeds through a threaded opening in retention cylinder 84 for engagement with an aligned opening in the perforated stake member.

FIG. 5 depicts a further dissimilar holding means 90 which can be employed to join the clamp member to an already affixed retaining stake in accordance with the present invention. Accordingly, clamp member 92 includes a yoke type fastener assembly 94 secured to the rear face of the upper clamp leg by conventional means for engagement with an already fixed retaining stake 96. Said metal yoke type fastening means 94 includes a pair of spaced apart arms 98 physically supporting a conventional cam member 100 suspended from a movable linkage pin 102. Rotation of said linkage pin permits physical engagement of said cam member with the exterior surface of the retaining stake 96 and thereby locks the entire fastening means in place at a desired elevation to complete physical suspension of the entire form construction. It can also be noted in the depicted embodiment that retaining stake 96 lacks nail openings since the present method of securing the clamp member to an adjoining stake member obviates such requirement for the assembly procedure.

Remaining FIGS. 6A and 6B provide a perspective view for a representative joinder of paired clamp members according to the present invention. Such paired clamp member arrangement 110 includes a physical coupling of the respective clamp members 112 and 114 at one end by means of slot openings provided in both clamp members allowing the inner sides of said members to face each other at approximately a right angle. Such a clamp member orientation proves particularly useful at end locations for sidewalk and patio constructions as well as wherever else desired in the poured concrete pattern. Accordingly, while not further depicted in the present drawing, clamp member 112 employs the same general construction previously described for the preceding embodiments to enable physical joinder of said clamp members to an already affixed first retaining stake. Similarly, clamp member 114 has a like construction for physical joinder to a second retaining stake affixed at approximately right angles to said first retaining stake. The intersection of clamp member 112 with clamp member 114 is enabled with mating end slots 116 and 118 provided in both clamp members allowing a slideable physical engagement of both clamp members when assembled together. Slot 116 extends downwardly from the upper leg of clamp member 112 whereas slot 118 proceeds upwardly from the lower leg of clamp member 114 to in provide the desired mating engagement. FIG. 6B still further illustrates the final assembly of said clamp members after having been physically joined together.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that a broadly useful and novel form construction when producing various concrete installations with conventional wooden planks has been provided. It is contemplated that already known modifications can be made in the desired clamp member construction than herein specifically described, however, so that it is intended to cover such modifications which may be devised by persons skilled in this art as falling within the true spirit and scope of the herein claimed invention. 

1. A removable L shaped clamp member to temporarily secure a wooden plank in place, the lower leg of said clamp member providing physically support of said wooden plank and the upper leg of said clamp member including fastening means to physically join said clamp member to an already fixed retaining stake.
 2. The clamp member of claim 1 wherein the lower leg of said clamp member includes a raised outer edge keeping the supported wooden plank fixed in place.
 3. The clamp member of claim 1 wherein the upper leg of said clamp member includes a laterally extending projection.
 4. The clamp member of claim 1 wherein the lower leg of said clamp member includes at least one inner pointed spike.
 5. The clamp member of claim 1 wherein the upper leg of said clamp member includes at least one inner pointed spike.
 6. The clamp member of claim 1 wherein both upper and lower legs of said clamp member include inner pointed spikes.
 7. The clamp member of claim 1 wherein the fixed retaining stake to which said clamp member is physically joined includes nail openings.
 8. The clamp member of claim 1 wherein the fastening means of said clamp member includes nail openings.
 9. The clamp member of claim 1 wherein the fixed retaining stake and the fastening means of said clamp member both include nail openings.
 10. The clamp member of claim 1 wherein a removable clip further resists movement of said clamp member after joinder to said already fixed retaining stake.
 11. The clamp member of claim 9 wherein joinder of said clamp member to said already fixed retaining stake is carried out with a conventional metal nail being inserted into the nail openings.
 12. The clamp member of claim 9 wherein joinder of said clamp member to said already fixed retaining stake is carried out with threaded screw means included in the fastening means of said clamp member.
 13. The clamp member of claim 1 wherein joinder of said clamp member to said already fixed retaining stake is carried out with cam locking means included in the fastening means of said clamp member.
 14. The clamp member of claim 1 wherein the fastening means of said clamp member includes a vertically extending hollow cylinder in which the already fixed retaining stake is lodged.
 15. The clamp member of claim 1 wherein the lower leg of said clamp member provides a horizontal shelf physically supporting said wooden plank. 